Harris probe witness may get plea bargain
By Johnny Brannon
Advertiser Staff Writer
Prosecutors are negotiating a plea bargain with a reluctant witness in the investigation of Mayor Jeremy Harris' campaign finances who has been indicted in two unrelated theft cases.
Advertiser library photo • Oct. 7, 2002
The potential deal with Lisa-Katharine Otsuka was disclosed yesterday during a court hearing in which a judge agreed to postpone her trial until mid-July and reduce her bail from $95,000 to $50,000.
Lisa-Katharine Otsuka failed to appear before a grand jury in September.
In September, Otsuka failed to appear before a grand jury looking into illegal campaign contributions to Harris and awarding of city contracts. She later refused to testify before the panel unless she was granted immunity from prosecution.
Amid that dispute, separate grand juries indicted Otsuka on theft charges for allegedly stealing money from a dance group and a car repair shop.
Harris has said he does not know Otsuka, and campaign officials insist they have done nothing wrong.
